School History 1929a
High Dudgeon
After the Christmas holiday, it soon became clear that the furore created among some of the Governors by the wording on invitations sent by the committee of the Old Students' Association to their social gathering in December was not about to fade away. More heated discussion took place during the first week of January at the Governors' meeting, and some time later, extracts of the opinions expressed by Mr. J. Picken, and Mrs. J. Guest, with replies from Mr. Jenkinson and Ald. Price, appeared in the local newspaper under the heading, "Governors' Wrath - A Tactless Invitation." In endeavouring to bring the matter to a close, Ald. Price proposed that it should be left to the Headmaster to have a quiet word with the offending committee to make sure that such misunderstandings did not re-occur. Everyone, including Mr. Jenkinson, agreed to this, and now they could pass on to other business in hand, which was the appointment of new members of school staff.
An Engineering Master
Mr. Jas. W. Burroughs B.Sc of Harpenden, Herts. was appointed Engineering Master at the school in January 1929, pursuant to the new policy of expansion of the curriculum.
Mr. J.W. Rhodes Joins the School
In February 1929, three candidates for the post of assistant gardener at the school were interviewed, and Mr. J.W. Rhodes of Upton, was appointed. He was to remain in employment at the school until his retirement in the 1960's.
Dinner Fund Loss
With a balance of £117 in the dinner fund account, the loss of £4 over the previous term was discussed at the Governors' meeting in January. It was suggested that the reduction of the price of a ticket by two pence during the Autumn term accounted for this, added to which there had been a drop in demand during the second half of that term. The Chairman suggested that things were best left as they were for a term or two, as there was a healthy balance, and if it were not spent, the County would claim it.
Exciting Hockey
Hemsworth S.S. Girls 2 Ackworth Q.S. Girls 2
On Saturday, 26th January, 1929, an exciting match took place at the Hemsworth school. Ackworth's greater knowledge and experience initially proved difficult for the Hemsworth team, but they soon adjusted, and continued to press throughout the game. Ackworth's two goals were scored by Margery Beaumont, and Misses Hilda Brooks and Vera Parton scored for Hemsworth. This game made history by being the first one to be reported in the press.
It Will Not Go Away
As promised, Mr. Jenkinson attended the next meeting of the Old Students' Association on 26th January, no doubt with the intention of smoothing things over concerning the invitations which had given offence to certain Governors. The requesting of an entrance fee to the Christmas social for those guests who accompanied the Governors and were not old students of the school was the contentious issue. Since the Governors' meeting in the middle of January, when tempers had been running high, an account of what had been said in anger had appeared in a local newspaper, and of course had been read by members of the Old Students' Association. They in turn reacted to this, and at their meeting a short time later, one of the invitations was read out to everyone in an effort to identify anything objectionable about it. The members failed to see what was causing the offence. It was mentioned that several of the Governors, including the chairman and his wife, had accepted the invitation and attended the dance.
Mr. Jenkinson was now in an unenviable position. He had been hoping to close the matter with a quiet word, and found himself having to undertake to explain the point of view of the Old Students' Association to the Governors at their next meeting. Not only that, but the Old Students were in turn righteously indignant that criticism of their invitations had been openly displayed in the local press, and so they decided to draft a letter of their own for publication, to explain their position.
THE LETTER
Sent without delay to the local newspaper:
Sir,
A report appeared in your last issue with regard to the recent dance held by the Hemsworth Secondary School Old Girls' and Boys' Association, and which appears to us to call for immediate explanation. The Association is represented as having sent out an invitation which was improperly worded, and which reflected discredit on the school. We do not consider that there is anything in this invitation to which any reasonable exception can be taken. It has always been a strict rule with the Association that no strangers should be invited to these gatherings, because they are intended to be reunions of old students of the school, and the character of such gatherings would be altogether altered by the admission of strangers. The only exception to this rule has been in the case of Governors and members of the staff, who have been invited on the same terms as members. No complimentary invitations have been issued to anyone. The Association cannot afford to issue them, and it would be unreasonable to expect them to do so. It was also stated in your report that Mr. Picken was refused permission for his children to attend the dance. What actually happened was that a friend of Mr. Picken's family was told that under the rules of the Association he could not attend the dance. We wish to make it clear that the Association had no intention of giving offence to anyone, and we regret very much that such a charge should have been unjustly brought against it. It is the desire of the Association and of everyone who is concerned with the credit and welfare of Hemsworth Secondary School that the meetings of the Old Girls and Boys and the affairs of the Association should be conducted with good fellowship and good feeling.
Yours etc. on behalf of the Hemsworth Secondary Old Students' Association,
W.L. Dooley, Winifred Walsh, Freda Swaine, Millicent Wootton, P.T. Burns, S.L. Carter, W. Kirk, A. Grayson (Hon. Secretary)
The Governors' Next Meeting - Loggerheads
As could have been predicted, the matter of the offending invitations was still a white-hot issue at the next Governors' meeting on 16th February, especially now that the Association's letter had been published and read by all. Ald. G. Price presided over a Friday afternoon's uncomfortable discussion.
Mrs. Guest introduced the topic by saying she had read the old students' letter in the newspaper, and interpreted it as insinuating that she had objected to paying for her ticket, which was nonsense. She stated that when the Association was founded, she was one of the first Governors to send them a subscription, and she had always paid to go to their functions.
Mr. J. Picken said he regretted the trouble had arisen. He asked the Headmaster whether he had written the letter for the Press, and Mr. Jenkinson replied that he had assisted in writing the letter.
Mrs. Dooley said she had received an invitation and she failed to see what was wrong with it. The Association had always been grateful for the kindnesses extended to them. She could not see that the invitation reflected in any way on the education of the children.
Mr. J. Potts regretted that the Governors and old scholars were at loggerheads and causing discontent, as that would not be to the benefit of the school.
Mrs. Guest said she had been astonished to see such a letter in the papers, and she had a right to defend herself.
The Headmaster read out the wording of the invitation, and said there was little in it to which any reasonable person might take exception. He explained how in attending the meeting of the Association, as requested by the Governors, he had seen that the members were indignant about seeing the matter reported in the Press, and he understood that they had therefore published their letter in an effort to clear themselves of the false charge.
Mrs. Guest said she felt it would have been much better if the letter had been sent to her, instead of the Press.
The Chairman remarked that he did not think that Governors were in any position to govern or control the rules and regulations of the Association, and on that note, the subject was closed.
As if to throw even more fuel on the fire, an account of this meeting and the comments of its attendees also appeared in the newspapers soon afterwards.
(Comparatively speaking however, these altercations in Hemsworth paled into insignificance compared with what was going on in Chicago during that same week, when two days earlier than this meeting, seven gangsters, rivals of Al Capone, were murdered in the St. Valentine's Day Massacre!)
The 21st Annual Pontefract Musical Festival Tue-Sat 13th -17th March 1929
The Adjudicators
Sir Richard Terry, of London. Mr. R.H. Wilson of Manchester, and Mr. A.G. Jenkinson of Hemsworth and Mr. J. Gawthorpe of Shipley in the elocution classes. The President - Mr. G.K. Hibbert, J.P. Headmaster of the Ackworth School Musical Director - Mr. R.B. Walker
There were 671 entries, which was 100 more than the previous year, with 20 schools competing in the junior classes and 24 in the senior, with 22 adult choral entries. The decrease in entries from the South Kirkby and Hemsworth districts was noticeable. Hemsworth Secondary School's choir was placed third with 176 marks for two test pieces, one of which was "The Owl" by Dr. Chapple, organist at the Pontefract Parish Church. It was said that they had a rich resonant tone, and with a little more 'elasticity' they would have achieved a better position.
On the Wednesday, Mr. R.H. Wilson praised the Intermediate school choirs, saying they would be a good foundation upon which to build a revival of choral societies in the event of the "sensationalism of jazz" dying down.
To illustrate the breadth of talent in the area, the other sections open to competition were; Vocal Duet (11-13; School Round; All School Choirs; Girls' School Choirs; Boys' School Choirs; Girls' Solos (11-13 and 13-16); Boys' Solos(11-13 and 13-16); Vocal Duet(13-16); Sight reading and ear test; Elocution; Small school choirs; Large school choirs; Part-song for Girls' Clubs; Pianoforte Solo; Pianoforte Duet (Junior); Male Voice Choir; and Church and Chapel Choirs.
(The competitors and adjudicators of that time could not have known that a few weeks later, in Berlin, a baby named Andreas Ludwig Priwin would be born who was to become the world famous concert pianist, composer and conductor known as Andre Previn. Over in Holland, a similar musical genius was also born during March 1929 who became a world famous conductor by the name of Bernard Haitink.)
Old Students Make a Plan
The Summer Term to Come
